Exercising device



Nov. 26, 1957 FIG. .1.

A. c. PROCTOR 2,814,491

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed June .15, 1956 22 M 24 FIG. 2. 4g 40 M 4 6 E 20 Z Y 3 Z 50 /6 L 6 0 f2 o o \0 INVENTOR. ALLEN .c: PEOCTOQ,

ATTOE/VE VS.

EXERCISIN G DEVICE Allen C. Proctor, Washington, D. C. Application June 15, 1956, Serial No. 591,656

4 Claims. (Cl. 272-68) This invention relates to exercising devices. More particularly, the invention has reference to a device adapted to strengthen the grip, build up the muscles of ones arm, and develop the muscles of the shoulder and back.

Summarided briefly, the invention includes a pair of spaced bars, adapted to be grasped in one hand, in a manner such that closing of the hand shifts the bars toward each other. A pair of connecting members extends between the bars, said members being adjustably connected to one of the bars and being slidable transversely of and within the other bar. A head on each connecting member has an arcuate guideway receiving a flexible element such as a length of rope, the ropes being connected to the bar in which the connecting members are slidable and extending intermediate their ends through the first mentioned bar. Below the first bar, the ropes are connected to clamps which are adapted for engagement about the shank of a dumbbell or other weighted element. By reason of the arrangement. on closing of the hand the lower bar is shifted toward the upper bar, and since the lower bar in eifect elevates the connecting members, with the ropes extending over the heads of said members, the dumbbell is raised, with its weight interposed as a direct deterrent toward movement of the bars toward each other.

One object of importance is to provide a generally improved exercising device, so designed that diflFerent weights are interchangeably usable with the device. In this way, one can initially use a relatively small weight, and progress by easy stages to a much heavier weight as his strength and muscle development increase.

Another object is to provide, in combination with the means using difierent weights interchangeably, means for spacing the bars adjustably in respect to one another, so that the space therebetween can be predetermined as desired, for the purpose of permitting increase in the normal distance between the bars to aid in progressive development of the grip and arm muscles.

Another object is to provide a device for exercising the hand and arm, capable of use with a conventional dumbbell or other weighted means without requiring modification of said means.

Still another object is to so form the device that it can be manufactured at relatively low cost.

Yet another object is to design the device in such a manner that the pull of the weight interposed as a means for resisting movement of the bars toward each other, will remain constant throughout the movement of the bars toward each other as distinguished, for example, from the pull of springs and similar devices heretofore employed in exercisers.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of the exerciser, a dumbbell connected thereto being shown fragmentarily and in dotted lines;

Figure 2 is a view of the exerciser partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, the dumbbell being shown in dotted lines, fragmentarily;

2,14,491 Patented Nov. 26, 1957 Figure 3 is an enlarged transverses section on line 3--3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device and associated dumbbell.

My exerciser includes a top bar 10 of approximately semi-circular cross section having a thickened intermediate portion 12 at the opposite ends of which transverse grooves 14 are formed. A bottom bar 16 extends parallel to the top bar 10, and is coextensive therewith. On the underside of bottom bar 16 longitudinally spaced, transversely extending, shallow recesses 18 are formed to provide a gripping surface.

Vertical, transverse openings 20, formed in top bar 10 adjacent opposite ends thereof, communicate at their upper ends with shallowly conical, upwardly opening recesses 22, receiving the complementarily shaped undersurfaces of heads 24 of connecting members 26 extending through openings 20 within the space between bars 10, 16. Connecting members 26 are of rectangular cross section. Heads 24 are of approximately semi-circular configuration (Figure 2) and have forwardly opening recesses receiving inserts 28 (Figure 3), connected to heads 24 by screws 30 and lockingly engaged with the heads through the provision of tongues 32 of inserts 28 engaging in complementary grooves of heads 24.

The top surfaces of heads 24 and inserts 28 have confronting, communicating, semi-circular recesses defining semi-circular grooves 34 the opposite walls of which are formed, at regularly spaced intervals through the length of the grooves, with hearing recesses receiving trunnions provided upon peripherally grooved guide rollers 36. Extending Within the semi-circular grooves in engagement with the rollers are flexible elements 38 which may be formed from lengths of rope material. Covers 40 are positioned over the heads, and are removably held in place through the provision of indented portions 42 formed in the front wall of each cover and engaging in recesses of inserts 28, in which recesses the heads of the screws 30 are disposed.

Adjacent the openings 20 top bar 10 has counterbored openings receiving one end of the flexible elements, and knots 44 are formed at said ends of the flexible elements, engaging in the counterbores of these openings.

At the other side of the openings 20, passages 46 are formed in top bar 10, extending parallel to openings 20. The flexible elements, after being trained about the semicircular head portions of the connecting members 26, are loosely positioned through openings 46 and then extended across the space between the top and bottom bars, for extension through openings 48 formed in bottom bar 16 adjacent its respective extremities.

Closely spaced from openings 48 are openings 50 of the bottom bar 16, receiving the lower end portions of connecting members 26. Lock pins 52 (Figures 2 and 3) are extended transversely of and within bottom bar 16, through transverse bores formed in the bottom bar, said locking pins being removably engageable in selected transverse openings 54 formed in the connecting members 26. The openings 54 of each connecting member are regularly spaced longitudinally of the connecting members.

Below bottom bar 16 the flexible elements 38 are fixedly connected to upwardly tapering ferrules 56 integrally formed on arcuate clamp elements 58 hingedly connected at one end as at 60 to mating, arcuate clamp elements 62. An arcuate keeper 64 is hingedly connected to the other end of each clamp element 58 and is releasably engageable with a hook-shaped lug 66 on clamp element 62. There is thus provided a ring clamp, capable of being engaged about the elongated body portion of a dumbbell D adjacent the bell end of the dumbbell.

It will thus be seen that the ring clamps of the exerciser can be connected to opposite end portions of the dumbbell. The dumbbell may be of any desired weight or size, and any of a plurality of dumbbells may be selectively in terchanged to vary as desired the resistance to movement of bars 10, 16 toward each other.

It will also be apparent that the respective bars can be adjustably spaced in a direction transversely of one another, since the connecting members can be fixedly connected to bottom bar 16 at any desired location along the lengths of the connecting members, through the provision of the series of lock-pin-receiving openings 54 of each connecting member.

In use of the invention, one grips with one hand the bars 10, 16, after a dumbbell of selected weight has been ergaged by the clamp, and after initial adjustment of the spacing between bars 10,16. Thereafter, a squeezing pressure is applied by the hand against the bars, with a view to shifting the bars toward each other. Since connecting members 26 are fixedly attached to the bottom bar 16, the squeezing pressure will be translated into relative movement of the bars 10, 16 toward each other. This will in turn result in connecting members 26 sliding within bar 12, shifting the head assemblies 24, 28 upwardly from bar 10. As a result, the weight of the dumbbell is required to be lifted before the bars 10, 16 will be permitted to come together. Said weight, in other words, is so disposed as to directly resist the relative movement of the bars toward each other.

It will be seen that this necessarily results in the exertion of a strong squeezing pressure before the bars can be brought together, thus strengthening ones grip through repeated use of the device. One might initially adjust the normal spacing of bars 10, 16 so that they are disposed at the minimum distance from each other, and at the same time one may use a relatively light weight means D. During progressive strengthening of the grip and development of the muscles, the bars 10, 16 can be adjusted progressively greater distances from each other and progressively heavier weights can be connected to the device. It will be observed that any of a large number of combinations of weights and bar spacing can be employed to advantage, over a period of time during use of the exerciser.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An exercising device for elevating gymnastic weight apparatus responsive to closing of the grip of a hand grasping the device with the apparatus suspended therefrom, comprising: vertically spaced, generally horizontal upper and lower bars; rigid means connected to the lower bar and extending upwardly therefrom beyond the top surface of the upper bar, said means being movable vertically relative to the upper bar; flexible means attached at one end to the upper bar with its other end extending below the lower bar, said flexible means intermediate its ends sliding transversely of and upon the rigid means above the upper bar, for elevation of the other end of the flexible means responsive to elevation of the lower bar and of the rigid means on closing of said grip; and means on said other end of the flexible means for detachably suspending said apparatus therefrom, thus to elevate the apparatus in response to closing of said grip while the weight of the apparatus is supported wholly by the hand gripping the bars.

2. An exercising device for elevating gymnastic weight apparatus responsive to closing of the grip of a hand grasping the device with the apparatus suspended therefrom, comprising: vertically spaced, generally horizontal upper and lower bars; rigid means affixed to the lower bar and extending upwardly therefrom beyond the top surface of the upper bar, said means being movable vertically relative to the upper bar and including a portion abutting the upper bar on downward movement of the lower bar relative to the upper bar, to limit said downward movement; flexible means attached at one end to the upper bar with its other end extending below the lower bar, said flexible means intermediate its ends sliding transversely of and upon said portion of the rigid means above the upper bar, for elevation of the other end of the flexible means responsive to elevation of the lower bar and of the rigid means on closing of said grip; and means on said other end of the flexible means for detachably suspending said apparatus therefrom, thus to elevate the apparatus in response to closing of said grip while the weight of the apparatus is supported wholly by the hand gripping the bars.

3. An exercising device for elevating gymnastic weight apparatus, responsive to the closing of the grip of a hand grasping the device with the apparatus suspended therefrom, comprising: vertically, spaced, generally horizontal, upper and lower bars; rigid, vertical connecting members spaced longitudinally of and affixed to the lower bar, said members extending upwardly from the upper bar and being vertically slidable in and extending beyond the top surface of the upper bar, said members including portions abutting the upper bar on downward movement of the lower bar relative to the upper bar to limit said downward movement; flexible elements attached at one end to the upper bar with their other ends extending below the lower bar, said elements intermediate their ends sliding transversely of and upon said portions of the connecting members above the upper bar, for elevation of the other ends of the elements responsive to elevation of the lower bar and connecting members on closing of said grip; and means on said other ends of the flexible elements for detachably suspending said apparatus therefrom, thus to ele vate the apparatus in response to closing of said grip while the weight of the apparatus is supported wholly by the hand gripping the bars.

4. An exercising device for elevating gymnastic weight apparatus, responsive to the closing of the grip of a hand grasping the device with the apparatus suspended therefrom, comprising: vertically, spaced, generally horizontal, upper and lower bars; rigid, vertical connecting members spaced longitudinally of and aflixed to the lower bar, said members extending upwardly from the upper bar, and being vertically slidable in and extending beyond the top surface of the upper bar, said members including portions abutting the upper bar on downward movement of the lower bar relative to the upper bar to limit said downward movement; flexible elements attached at one end to the upper bar with their other ends extending below the lower bar, said elements intermediate their ends slightly transversely of and upon said portions of the connecting members above the upper bar, for elevation of the other ends of the elements responsive to elevation of the lower bar and connecting members on closing of said grip; and means on said other ends of the flexible elements for detachably suspending said apparatus therefrom, thus to elevate the apparatus in response to closing of said grip while the weight of the apparatus is supported wholly by the hand gripping the bars, comprising annular, spreadable clamps proportioned to receive the opposite end portions of a gymnastic weight apparatus.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

